Combination key-operated mechanism and hand-hold face support



F. J. RUSSELL 3,196,645 COMBINATION KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM AND HAND-HOLDFACE SUPPORT July 27, 1965 Filed Dec. 11, 1962 INVENTOR. F250 \JIRUSSELL BY 34% 5 Jim" Jaw ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,196,645COMBINATION KEY-*OPERATED MECHANISM AND HAND-HOLD FACE SUPPORT Fred J.Russell, 3800 Don Felipe Drive, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Dec. 11, 1962,Ser. No. 243,763 3 Claims. (Cl. 70-224) The invention relates to doorlocks and has particular reference to the mounting of a knob on aspindle in such fashion that there is a multiple stabilizingrelationship provided for the knob, or, infact, any other type ofhand-hold, suchas a lever handle. More'particularly, the inventionhas'reference to a structure wherein the knob or other hand-hold, as thecase may be, is supported by some appropriate agency at the outer end ofthe spindle which is adapted to lie near the face of the knob,

as well as being supported in the customary fashion at the neck or shankof the knob. This is a continuation-inpart of copending applicationSerialNo. 32,874, filed May 31, 1960, now Patent No. 3,069,194,and'copending application Serial No. 229,152, filed October 8, 1962.

One piece knobs for doorlocks have become increasingly popular, but thisparticular type of knob has some limitations from the point of view ofattachment to the spindle. Usually, only the neck of such a knob engagesthose portions of the lock extending laterally from the door, namely,the spindle, and the object heretofore has been to provide a sufficientlength for such engagement so that the knob can be reasonably stable inrelation to the spindle during use. It is recognized, however, thatknobs of some shapes provide a somewhat limited area of projectionbeyond the door, which results in a corresponding minimum amount ofbearing area at the point where the neck of the knob extends rearwardlyand engages the spindle. For example, the maximum potential bearing areaon the spindle must be divided between bearing area for the spindlewithin a hub in which it rotates and bearing area between the spindleand theneck of the knob. Any lengthening of the neck to improve theamount of area available for engagement with the spindle tends to lessenthe available area of engagement between the spindle and its hub orbearing.

As the weight of the knob increases or as the diameter of the neckincreases, the axial length of the engagement area remains unchanged,but the problem of maintaining stability between the knob and thespindle increases. This means that there is a greater tendency forlooseness and movement or rattling of the knob. In multiple piece knobs,stability sometimes is accomplished by employment of an inner piece orpieces within the knob which serve as a brace between the spindle andthe inside of the knob.

When only the neck of the knob engages a spindle, the

stability between the spindle and the knob depends entirely upon theengagement between the neck of the knob and the spindle at a single areaof support. This is often not sufiicient to provide the desired feelingof firmness and security.

In applicants copending applications, resort has been had to employmentofsome connection between the outer end of the spindle and the face ofthe knob to give to the assembly added stability by virtue of thisadditional contact. In some instances, a separate ring has been em-.ployed capping the outer end of the spindle and extending "ice into asuitable aperture in the knob face'to interconnect these two parts ofthe "lock. The added stability, thus accomplished has been meritoriousbut does necessitate employment of an extra piece.

It is therefore among the objectsof the invention to provide a new andimproved support for a'knob which makes use of engagement orstabilization'both at the neck and at the face of the knob or such otherhand-hold 'as may be employed without making, use of accessorystructures.

Another object of the invention. is to provide a new 'and improvedspindle and knob assembly for a door lock which makes use of akey-operated mechanism incorporated in the spindle, the key-operatedmechanism itself being taken advantage of as the means ofinterconnecting mechanically and for stability purposes the spindle andthe outer end of the'knob.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedspindle and knob assembly for a door lock -provided with a key-operatedmechanism incorporated in the spindle, the key-operated mechanism beingso constructed that a portion of it extends outwardly beyond the spindleend and into the knob face, there to supply a stabilizing engagementwith the knob face which finds its port in the spindle.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedspindle and knob assembly for adoor lock equipped with a key-operatedmechanism wherein a rotating portion of the key-operated mechanismprovides for a stabilizing contact between the key-operated mechanismand the knob face thereby affording a stabilizing support of the knobface at its outer end by the spindle.

Still further among the objects of the invention is to provide a new andimproved spindle and knob assembly for a door lock which makes use of akey-operated mechanism which includes a housing wherein the housingitself provides a stabilizing interconnection between the spindle andthe face of the knob.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of thedevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafterset forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view of a spindle and knobassembly mounted in place upon a door.

FIGURE 2 is an end-elevational view of the spindle and knob assembly ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is. a side-perspective view of the particular key-operatedmechanism employed in the device of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal, sectional view of'a spindle and knobassembly in position mounted upon a door incorporating a second form ofthe invention.

FIGURE 6 is an end-elevational view of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a side-perspective viewof-the form of key operated mechanismemployed in FIGURES 5 and 6.

In the particular embodiment of the invention herein shown and describedfor the purpose of illustration, there is indicated a fragment of door10 upon which is mounted a-door lock assembly incorporated in part in abushing ano es-s 11 of substantially conventional construction which isstationarily mounted with other parts (not shown) upon the door.Surrounding the bushing is a trim sleeve 12 and a rosette 13. A spindle14 is rotatably mounted in the bushing and extends outwardly relative tothe door a substantial distance as indicated, namely, to approximatelythe location of the inner end wall of a knob or other appropriatehand-hold 15. The end wall has been indicated by the reference character16 having an outer face 17 and an inner face 18. Centrally located inthe end wall is a circular opening 19 which is in axial alignment withthe spindle 14 or more appropriately with the inside diameter 20 of thespindle which in the embodiment chosen is tubular.

In the form of FIGURES 1, 2, 3, and 4, there is provided a key-operatedmechanism indicated generally by the reference character and shown inperspective view inFIGURE 4. The key-operated mechanism 25 cons'ists ofa cylindrical casing or barrel 26 having on one side a pin tumblerhousing 27, which actually forms part of the casing. Followingconventional construction, there is ro tatablyimounted withinthe'cylindrical casing 26 a cylinder plug evidenced in the chosenembodiment by and outwardly extending face portion 28 and an inwardlyextending tail portion 29. .A'keyway 30 of the usual sort extends intothe face portion 28 and when the cylinder plug is rotated by operationof the key the tail; portion is rotated so as to turn a tailpiece 31which is a customary means for manipulating appropriate portions of thelock device (not shown).

' On one side, namely, the upper side of the spindle 14 as viewed inFIGURE 1, there is included a slot 32 through which the pin tumblerhousing 27 passes thereby to secure the cylinder casing 26 nonrotatablyin the spindle 14, the pin tumbler housing 27, being contained withintheinterior of theknob 15. I It will be noted in' this instance that theface portion of the casing 26 which is circular in crosssection is'rotatably mounted in the opening 19 in the wall 16 of the knob 15. Theface portion extends far enough outwardly beyond the outer end of thespindle to reach through the end wall and occupy a supportingrelationship with the wall forming the opening 19, Inasmuch as thecylindrical casing 26 fills the interior of the spindle 14, the transferof support thus provided between the outer end of the knob 15 andthespindleis accomplished by a portion of the key-operated mechanism 25.

The key-operated mechanism may be retained in its position within thespindle by engagement with the outer end of the knob. i In the interestof providing a comprehensive disclosure so that the assembly andoperation of the present invention can be understood, certain details ofthe keeper assembly are shown and 'describedherein. More particularly,{the keeper assembly consists of two parts, namely, a keeper member 36and a retainer member 37; A smaller portion 38 of the keeper memberextends outwardly through radially aligned holes 39 in the spindle and40 in a neck 41 of the knob, and a larger portion 42 extends through ahole 43 in the spindle diametrically opposite the hole 39. A boss 44projects through an opening 45 in the retained member, and the keepermember is adapted to press against the inside wall of the retainermember which, by reason of being an arcuate spring element, yields whileremaining in engagement with the exterior of the spindle and which, whenpressure is released, returns the keeper member downwardlyias viewed inFIGURE 3. V

In the form of invention shown in FIGURES 5, 6, and 7, a slightlydifferent form of key-operated mechanism is employed. The remainingportions of the spindle and knob assembly, however, are substantiallythe same. As there shown, the key-operated mechanism 50 consists of .acylindrical casing 51 part of whichconsists of a pin tumbler housing 52.In this form of device, the cylindrical casing 51 itself extendsoutwardly beyond the spin idle 14 and into supporting engagement withthe wall which forms the opening 19 in the Accordingly, a cylinder plug53 c Way 54 is approximately flush with an 0116. of the cylindricalcasing 51. At its other end, Ire der plug is provided with a tailportion 56 from which tends a tailpiece 57 of the usual kind.

When held in assembled position the cylindrical casing 51 isnonrotatably mounted by reason of the fact that the pin tumbler housing52 extends through the slot 32 in the spindle. Since the cylindricalcasing 51 is thus nonrotatably mounted, it can have a reasonably snugfit in the opening 19 of the knob 15 thereby to provide substantially amaximum degree of stability in interconnecting the front end of the knob15 with the spindle 14.

In both of the instances here employed as examples of the invention, theneck of the knob :15 affords a second area of support in that it is inrotatable engagement with the exterior of the bushing 11. From theforegoing description, therefore, it will be clear-that two areas ofsupport are provided for the knob 15 spaced virtual-1y at opposite endsof theknob 15. These consist of the support of the knob neck 41', andthe sup- :port of the'knob face 17 which istactually provided by thekey-operated mechanisms 25 or 5 0. While the invention has herein. beenshown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical andpreferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may befmadetherefrom within the scope of the invention, which is notto. be limitedto the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope ofthe claims so as to embrace any and all'equiv-alent devices.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support ofLetters Patent is: i

1. In a door lock a hub, a spindle mounted in the hub, a hand-holdhaving a neck spaced from and in nonrotatable relationship with thespindle and rotatably supported upon said hub to form an innerstabilizing support for the hand-hold, a face portion of the handheldhaving an opening in alignment with the spindle and a keyoperatedmechanism releasably attached to said spindle, said key operatedmechanism comprising a casing mounted within the outer portion of thespindle, and a cylinder plug rotatably mounted in said casing, saidkeyoperated mechanism having an outer end extending outwardly beyond thespindle and slid'a'bly into said opening in said face portion from theinner side thereof, said outer end being in supporting relationship withsaid face portion and providing thereby an outer stabilizing support forthe hand-hold at its face end.

2. In a door lock .a hub, a spindle mounted in the hub, a h-and holdhaving an exterior neck extending rearwardly of the hand-hold and innonrotatable relationship with the spindle, said neck having an insidediameter greater than the hub and spaced from the spindle, said neckhaving a rotatable mounting relative to the hub and on the exteriorthereof, a face portion of thehand-hold having an opening in alignmentwith the spindle and a key-operated mechanism releasably attached tosaid spindle, said key-operated mechanism comprising a casing mountedwithin the outer portion of the spindle, and a cylinder plug rotatablymounted in said casing, said casing having an outer end forming anannular flange extending beyond the outer end of the spindle and intothe opening in said face portion, said outer end being in support ingrelationship with said face portion and providing thereby a stabilizingsupport for the hand-hold at its face end.

3. In a door lock a hub, a spindle mounted in the hub, a handheld havingan exterior neck extending rearwardly of the hand-hold and in nonrotatable relationship with the spindle, said neck having an inside diametergreater than the hub and spaced from the spindle by at least thethickness of the hub, said neck having a rotatable mounting relative tothe hub and on the exterior thereof, whereby to provide a rearstabilizing support for the hand-hold, a face portion of the hand-holdhaving an opening in alignment with the spindle and a key-operatedmechanism releasably attached to said spindle, said heyoperatedmechanism comprising a casing mounted within the outer portion of thespindle, a cylinder plug rotatably mounted in said casing, said cylinderplug having an outer end extending outwardly beyond said casing and saidspindle and extending slida-bly into said opening in said face portionfrom the inner side thereof, said outer end being in supportingrelationship with said face portion and providing thereby a forwardstabilizing support for the handhold at its face end spaced from saidrear stabilizing support by a distance in excess of the length of saidcasing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Young 292-347Rayburn 70224 Rayburn 70-424 North et a1 70-146 Muttort 70-224 Russell70146 Hillgren 70150 M. HENSQN WOOD, 111., Primary Examiner.

ALBERT H. KA-MPE, THOMAS J. HECKEY,

Examiners.

1. IN A DOOR LOCK A HUB, A SPINDLE MOUNTED IN THE HUB, A HAND-HOLDHAVING A NECK SPACED FROM AND IN NONROTATABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH THESPINDLE AND ROTATABLY SUPPORTED UPON SAID HUB TO FORM AN INNERSTABILIZING SUPPORT FOR THE HAND-HOLD, A FACE PORTION OF THE HAND-HOLDHAVING AN OPENING IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE SPINDLE AND A KEYOPERATEDMECHANISM RELEASABLY ATTACHED TO SAID SPINDLE, SAID KEY-OPERATEDMECHANISM COMPRISING A CASING MOUNTED WITHIN THE OUTER PORTION OF THESPINDLE, AND A CYLINDER PLUG ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CASING, SAIDKEYOPERATED MECHANISM HAVING AN OUTER END EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND THESPINDLE AND SLIDABLY INTO SAID OPENING IN SAID FACE PORTION FROM THEINNER SIDE THEREOF, SAID OUTER END BEING IN SUPPORTING RELATIONSHIP WITHSAID FACE PORTION AND PROVIDING THEREBY AN OUTER STABILIZING SUPPORT FORTHE HAND-HOLD AT ITS FACE END.